The actions of Claudio Reyna should serve as a vital lesson for US Soccer going forward, and much needed no tolerance policy for its developmental ranks.
Ok I get this is meant to be a "hot take" and appeal to the rage in all of us over the situation.
I think we can all agree the actions of Claudio and Danielle are disturbing and the comments and misogyny from Claudio towards women deplorable. I can get behind a ban for both of them from US Soccer and can see the point of view about professional soccer in the US. Although I have to say that second point is not one I am fully aligned with but I get it. Telling private business who they can and cannot hire seems a bit presumptuous and they should always be able to do what they feel is right for the success of their business.
For me the take on Gio is way off base.
It's easy to forget Gio is 20 and 20 year olds make mistakes. He apologized for his behavior at the WC and it was accepted. To assume he will throw the people who raised him under the bus is naive.
As far as these comments:
"I strongly disagree with calling up Gio at this point in the cycle, and maybe not at all through 2026.
I don’t think I’d be all that upset if Gio never played for the USMNT again since I don’t think Gio himself grasps what a privilege it is to represent his country."
"Yes, innocent players will in the end be held accountable for their parent’s actions, it is a necessary step to rid evil from our sport."
I am not sure how you can project or know that he doesn't care about representing his country.
Advocating for a permanent ban or semi permanent ban for a 20year old as the subject but not the perpetrator? And punishing an innocent person for the behavior of another? Sorry but that is not what we are built on as a society. Ends don't justify the means. Problems need to he addressed but a statement using punishing innocent player as a deterrant robs Peter to pay Paul and instead brings other problems. Really we take revenge on the innocent?
Everyone is entitled to their opinions and I at the end recognize there are good reasons to have them but I will respectfully agree to disagree.
Brian my take comes from a much different position as a grassroots referee where collectively the majority of these interactions from parents like the Reynas take place far too often. It's an unfortunate reality that US Soccer needs to deal with and that means in certain cases expelling the parents (and likely their child/player) from the club and sport to foster a better developmental environment. And with how long the elder Reyna's have been doing this a suspension for Gio should not be off the table as it reinforces the notion that this behavior is acceptable and US Soccer is going to have a long road towards correcting and eliminating this issue and it's going to appear very drastic at times.
Gio might be too big to fail at this point but the larger point stands and Gio getting a callup next week bothers me regardless of if like you and many others, they can separate the elder Reyna's actions from Gio. As for Gio's mistakes at the World Cup, maybe he has learned from them but he's going to have to address his parents mistakes as well and I don't think next week is an appropriate time to put him in that position.
Mar 17, 2023·edited Mar 17, 2023Liked by Jake Catanese
Thanks Jake for the reply. I definitely don't have the perspective of a referee. It isn't something I've done myself in my time involved with soccer.
Certainly your comments were directed at the Reynas. But I will also put my perspective which is admittedly different than yours and a player a coach and a da
1. I have been a coach at the club level (just barely above rec so not a high level). I've seen parents with bad behaviour. I've also known a lot of kids of those parents who are tremendous human beings (and some that are not). I think of them in my comment. Would I feel the punishment fits for them to be stripped of something they love? No way. They are kids once and then they later in life have to deal with the crap of the real world. It is not time they get back.
For me this goes beyond Gio. I see no scenario where sacrificial lambs benefit the childhood of those kids.
I'm 50 . In addition to coaching I've been involved with soccer for 44 years. I've played with kids that had parents like that and they loved their parents but hated every moment of their behavior. I have my own. One of whom plays at a very high level. Whether it be the level I coached at or the level he is, it is irrelevant there are a ton of good kids .
At the same time I hear your music. Referees and clubs and coaches get the shit sandwich. For me it was always worth it when I to see the joy on their faces. I can't envision any scenario where that should be taken away. Even for Gio.
Thank you for what you do. Every time I go to a game I am thankful that people like yourself give their time so people like my son can have this rmoments of joy
Ok I get this is meant to be a "hot take" and appeal to the rage in all of us over the situation.
I think we can all agree the actions of Claudio and Danielle are disturbing and the comments and misogyny from Claudio towards women deplorable. I can get behind a ban for both of them from US Soccer and can see the point of view about professional soccer in the US. Although I have to say that second point is not one I am fully aligned with but I get it. Telling private business who they can and cannot hire seems a bit presumptuous and they should always be able to do what they feel is right for the success of their business.
For me the take on Gio is way off base.
It's easy to forget Gio is 20 and 20 year olds make mistakes. He apologized for his behavior at the WC and it was accepted. To assume he will throw the people who raised him under the bus is naive.
As far as these comments:
"I strongly disagree with calling up Gio at this point in the cycle, and maybe not at all through 2026.
I don’t think I’d be all that upset if Gio never played for the USMNT again since I don’t think Gio himself grasps what a privilege it is to represent his country."
"Yes, innocent players will in the end be held accountable for their parent’s actions, it is a necessary step to rid evil from our sport."
I am not sure how you can project or know that he doesn't care about representing his country.
Advocating for a permanent ban or semi permanent ban for a 20year old as the subject but not the perpetrator? And punishing an innocent person for the behavior of another? Sorry but that is not what we are built on as a society. Ends don't justify the means. Problems need to he addressed but a statement using punishing innocent player as a deterrant robs Peter to pay Paul and instead brings other problems. Really we take revenge on the innocent?
Everyone is entitled to their opinions and I at the end recognize there are good reasons to have them but I will respectfully agree to disagree.
Brian my take comes from a much different position as a grassroots referee where collectively the majority of these interactions from parents like the Reynas take place far too often. It's an unfortunate reality that US Soccer needs to deal with and that means in certain cases expelling the parents (and likely their child/player) from the club and sport to foster a better developmental environment. And with how long the elder Reyna's have been doing this a suspension for Gio should not be off the table as it reinforces the notion that this behavior is acceptable and US Soccer is going to have a long road towards correcting and eliminating this issue and it's going to appear very drastic at times.
Gio might be too big to fail at this point but the larger point stands and Gio getting a callup next week bothers me regardless of if like you and many others, they can separate the elder Reyna's actions from Gio. As for Gio's mistakes at the World Cup, maybe he has learned from them but he's going to have to address his parents mistakes as well and I don't think next week is an appropriate time to put him in that position.
Thanks Jake for the reply. I definitely don't have the perspective of a referee. It isn't something I've done myself in my time involved with soccer.
Certainly your comments were directed at the Reynas. But I will also put my perspective which is admittedly different than yours and a player a coach and a da
1. I have been a coach at the club level (just barely above rec so not a high level). I've seen parents with bad behaviour. I've also known a lot of kids of those parents who are tremendous human beings (and some that are not). I think of them in my comment. Would I feel the punishment fits for them to be stripped of something they love? No way. They are kids once and then they later in life have to deal with the crap of the real world. It is not time they get back.
For me this goes beyond Gio. I see no scenario where sacrificial lambs benefit the childhood of those kids.
I'm 50 . In addition to coaching I've been involved with soccer for 44 years. I've played with kids that had parents like that and they loved their parents but hated every moment of their behavior. I have my own. One of whom plays at a very high level. Whether it be the level I coached at or the level he is, it is irrelevant there are a ton of good kids .
At the same time I hear your music. Referees and clubs and coaches get the shit sandwich. For me it was always worth it when I to see the joy on their faces. I can't envision any scenario where that should be taken away. Even for Gio.
Thank you for what you do. Every time I go to a game I am thankful that people like yourself give their time so people like my son can have this rmoments of joy